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glitteryvHave decided to close out Boramonth by reccing Suchwita episodes, heheh.
For those who might not know, Suchwita is a web talk show hosted by SUGA. The title means "Drinks with SUGA". He invites all kinds of Korean celebs (mostly K-pop idols, occasionally actors and TV personalities) to spend some time talking abt whatever the guests are promoting while having some drinks and foods. The episodes vary in length; some are abt 30 mins, others go over to the 45-min mark.
As a host, SUGA has a combination of charm and curiosity that helps even the most introverted person have a good time.
My first instinct was to rank the episodes (so far 12 have aired. There was an announcement just this morning for an upcoming episode featuring SeHo, a male comedian.) BUT I wanted to keep things as fair as possible. Instead, I've opted to group episodes by theme.\o?
This post's theme is all abt two v. significant episodes in which SUGA had conversations with two of his favorite artists of all time.
First up was BIGBANG's Taeyang
OK, full disclosure: with the exception of SHINee and Epik High, 2nd generation K-pop artists aren't my cuppa. Intellectually, I am v. aware that BIGBANG is a group that's reached legendary status. That said, the only song by them I can recognize is "Bang Bang Bang". Also, unfortch for me, the main reason I ever learned abt them was from the many scandals during their long career (with the worst one being the Burning Sun one, so...there's that.)
Now, there are some corners of ARMY that 100% believe SUGA is an aloof guy who drops the angriest raps, etc. I definitely wish those folks could watch this episode because--even within the limits of having a v. public persona--SUGA displays facets of himself that contrast with certain public perceptions of him. Behold 30 minutes of a giggly, shiny-eyed SUGA who tells one of his longtime faves how NERVOUS HE IS to be seated across him. He is 200% in awe (though, eventually, manages to calm down a little and steer the convo without any stumbles.)
Overall, this is one of those episodes I've watched the least number of times (I think only 2x?). In part because, as adorable as it is to see SUGA be blushy and thrilled of (formally?) meeting Taeyang, I also have a neutral reaction to Taeyang's status. The other thing is that Taeyang (who was there to promote his single VIBE (featuring Jimin)) is polite in a way that remains at a superficial level for most of the episode. He doesn't really loosen up until around the last ten minutes of the show.
OTOH, I did liked the parts of the conversation abt having a long career in K-pop, the struggles every artist goes thru when they want to do solo stuff without breaking up the group they are a member of, what life is like when you've reached the top, etc.
In some ways, BIGBANG and BTS are on the same level--with each one being considered a representative of their respective generations (2nd and 3rd). So, despite the difference in their lives (Taeyang is 35, married, and a parent while SUGA is 30, single, and child-free), there are a few spaces both of them do connect.
Funnily enough, the guest two episodes later ALSO is one of SUGA's favorite artists: Epik High's Tablo
Tablo was kinda there to promote Strawberry (Epik High's latest album). HOWEVAH, in all truth, SUGA and Tablo are actual!friends. Like, early in the episode, Taboo says that he showed up to hangout with his friend. The mood in this episode is 200% more casual. IMO, even if you might not know who Epik High is, this is fun episode. Frex, it so happens that both SUGA and RM were HIGH SKOOL, i.e. part of the Epik High fandom from way back in the day.
Just like with Taeyang, the conversation includes topics such as longevity in the music business, finding one's truth as an artist while trying to survive/make a living, what it means to be older in K-pop (Tablo is 42) while raising a kid, etc.
Given that BTS has reached their 10th year as a group, it makes sense that SUGA wanted to connect with his elders in the business. BIGBANG has been around for 17 years while Epik High will celebrate its 20th year in October of this year. Although I did liked Tablo's episode more than Taeyang's, watching both of them back-to-back offers a good perspective on where SUGA is nowadays.
For those who might not know, Suchwita is a web talk show hosted by SUGA. The title means "Drinks with SUGA". He invites all kinds of Korean celebs (mostly K-pop idols, occasionally actors and TV personalities) to spend some time talking abt whatever the guests are promoting while having some drinks and foods. The episodes vary in length; some are abt 30 mins, others go over to the 45-min mark.
As a host, SUGA has a combination of charm and curiosity that helps even the most introverted person have a good time.
My first instinct was to rank the episodes (so far 12 have aired. There was an announcement just this morning for an upcoming episode featuring SeHo, a male comedian.) BUT I wanted to keep things as fair as possible. Instead, I've opted to group episodes by theme.\o?
This post's theme is all abt two v. significant episodes in which SUGA had conversations with two of his favorite artists of all time.
First up was BIGBANG's Taeyang
OK, full disclosure: with the exception of SHINee and Epik High, 2nd generation K-pop artists aren't my cuppa. Intellectually, I am v. aware that BIGBANG is a group that's reached legendary status. That said, the only song by them I can recognize is "Bang Bang Bang". Also, unfortch for me, the main reason I ever learned abt them was from the many scandals during their long career (with the worst one being the Burning Sun one, so...there's that.)
Now, there are some corners of ARMY that 100% believe SUGA is an aloof guy who drops the angriest raps, etc. I definitely wish those folks could watch this episode because--even within the limits of having a v. public persona--SUGA displays facets of himself that contrast with certain public perceptions of him. Behold 30 minutes of a giggly, shiny-eyed SUGA who tells one of his longtime faves how NERVOUS HE IS to be seated across him. He is 200% in awe (though, eventually, manages to calm down a little and steer the convo without any stumbles.)
Overall, this is one of those episodes I've watched the least number of times (I think only 2x?). In part because, as adorable as it is to see SUGA be blushy and thrilled of (formally?) meeting Taeyang, I also have a neutral reaction to Taeyang's status. The other thing is that Taeyang (who was there to promote his single VIBE (featuring Jimin)) is polite in a way that remains at a superficial level for most of the episode. He doesn't really loosen up until around the last ten minutes of the show.
OTOH, I did liked the parts of the conversation abt having a long career in K-pop, the struggles every artist goes thru when they want to do solo stuff without breaking up the group they are a member of, what life is like when you've reached the top, etc.
In some ways, BIGBANG and BTS are on the same level--with each one being considered a representative of their respective generations (2nd and 3rd). So, despite the difference in their lives (Taeyang is 35, married, and a parent while SUGA is 30, single, and child-free), there are a few spaces both of them do connect.
Funnily enough, the guest two episodes later ALSO is one of SUGA's favorite artists: Epik High's Tablo
Tablo was kinda there to promote Strawberry (Epik High's latest album). HOWEVAH, in all truth, SUGA and Tablo are actual!friends. Like, early in the episode, Taboo says that he showed up to hangout with his friend. The mood in this episode is 200% more casual. IMO, even if you might not know who Epik High is, this is fun episode. Frex, it so happens that both SUGA and RM were HIGH SKOOL, i.e. part of the Epik High fandom from way back in the day.
Just like with Taeyang, the conversation includes topics such as longevity in the music business, finding one's truth as an artist while trying to survive/make a living, what it means to be older in K-pop (Tablo is 42) while raising a kid, etc.
Given that BTS has reached their 10th year as a group, it makes sense that SUGA wanted to connect with his elders in the business. BIGBANG has been around for 17 years while Epik High will celebrate its 20th year in October of this year. Although I did liked Tablo's episode more than Taeyang's, watching both of them back-to-back offers a good perspective on where SUGA is nowadays.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-26 07:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-26 07:49 pm (UTC)(BTW, I'll continue to post abt the episodes Wednesday thru Friday. 😉)
no subject
Date: 2023-06-27 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-27 03:57 pm (UTC)In any case, yeah, I really, really like SUGA's wanting to talk to ppl he respects abt the ups and downs of the K-pop business. Mainly cuz so much abt it (at least from the artists' perspective) has all kinds of deadlines. How does someone who has been a part of that for over 10 yrs can balance their own lives with wanting to create music? What happens when (general) you are consider an elder...even though you're only 30 y.o.? How does one chooses which trends to adapt to and which ones to ignore? Anyways, I'm more than sure all of that (and more) are things that SUGA keeps in his mind. But with a less fatalistic bent that it might sound like. He has been extremely verbal abt wanting to continue putting new music out there for at least the next 30 yrs. :D
Enjoy!